Manual of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, Edition 2013

297 Pages·2016·3.29 MB·English

RevisedJanuary 5
MANUAL
OF
THE CHRISTIAN AND
MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
2018 Edition
ThisManualcontains the Articles of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Constitution
and Bylaws originally adopted by the 1993 General Council and ratified by the 1994 General
Council. It also contains Auxiliary Constitutions and Regulations of The Christian and Missionary
Alliance, supplemented by other legal actions, and is designed to reflect as fully as possible the
actions of the General Council and Board of Directors. ThisManualreflects dated revisions made by
General Council and Board of Directors by each section as revised.
Copyright 2018
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Printed in the United States of America
National Office
The Christian and Missionary Alliance • 8595 Explorer Drive • Colorado Springs, CO 80920
As the appointed “spiritual leader and chief executive officer of The Christian
and Missionary Alliance”,1 I am pleased to introduce our Manual to you. It
contains the most recent understanding of how we can function best as a
denomination. Together, through the passing years, we created it. Together, in the
years to come, we can adjust it as we deem appropriate. It is a human tool . . .
necessary, even valuable, but not infallible. For our historic ministry to be relevant
for generations to come, such tools as this one will continue to be revised.
Meanwhile, our foundation is not this resource but God “infinitely perfect,
existing eternally in the three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.2 Jesus is
“now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest.”3 The Holy
Spirit has been sent to “indwell, guide, teach (and) empower” us.4
Before we are an organization—with all its necessary structure and policy—we
are the children of our Father, the redeemed of our Lord, and the recipients of the
Holy Spirit. May the structures we create never restrict the spiritual dimension of
our calling. May the policies we form never contradict the Word we have already
received.5 Instead, may documents such as these only serve to advance our
movement as we “go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all
nations.”6
Together for His Kingdom,
John P. Stumbo
12thPresidentof The Christian and Missionary Alliance
1The ministry description of the president of the US Alliance reads…
2Statement of Faith
3Hebrews 8:1
4John 16:13, Acts 1:8
5“The Old and New Testaments…”
6Matthew 28:19–20
2018EDITION
MISSION STATEMENT
OF
THECHRISTIAN ANDMISSIONARYALLIANCE
O
ur mission is to know Jesus Christ; exalt Him as Savior, Sanctifier,
Healer, and Coming King; and complete His Great Commission:
Proclaiming the truth of God’s Word by emphasizing the Lordship of
Jesus Christ, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and the imminent
return of the Lord Jesus,
Evangelizing and discipling persons throughout the United States and
around the world, incorporating them into Christ-centered, community-
focused congregations, and mobilizing them in a missionary effort
designed to plant Great Commission churches among both unreached
and responsive peoples worldwide, and
Working collaboratively with other churches and organizations that
share the mission and vision of The Christian and Missionary Alliance to
extend Christ’s Kingdom.
2018EDITION
CONTENTS
Section
CONSTITUTIONS AND BYLAWS......................................................................................A
Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and Bylaws, Special Rules of Order for General
Council. Auxiliary Constitutions: Districts, Accredited Churches.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.................................................................................................B
Definition of an Official Worker.
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION......................................................................................C
Introduction, Higher Education Regulations, Office of the Corporate Secretary General
Regulations, Office of the Vice President for Administration General Regulations.
DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS......................................................................................D
Introduction, Alliance Life.
CHURCH MINISTRIES REGULATIONS..........................................................................E
Introduction, Districts and Associations (Geographical and Multicultural). Uniform
Policy on: Licensingand Certification, Ordination, Consecration, Certification of
Nonclergy Church Professions, Retired Workers, Discipline, Restoration and Appeal.
General Regulations. Regulations GoverningMulticultural Ministries, Policy for the
Governance of Developing Districts, Policyfor Qualifying as an Accredited Church,
Policy for the Governance of a Developing Church, Model Articles of Incorporation for
Local C&MA Churches, Model Bylaws for Local C&MA Churches, Agenda for
Organizingan Accredited Alliance Church, Policyfor Reclassifying Accredited Churches
to Developing Church Status, Policy for Church Closure.
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES REGULATIONS...........................................................F
OPERATIONS/FINANCE REGULATIONS.......................................................................G
Introduction, Overall Financial Policy, The Christian and Missionary Alliance Retirement
Plan, Retirement Centers.
STATEMENTS........................................................................................................................H
Church Government, Marriage—Divorce—Remarriage, Cooperation in Mission, Sanctity
of Life, Destiny of Those Who Have Never Heard, Definition of Constituted Authority,
Human Sexuality, Sanctification, Secret Societies/Masonry.
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS....................................................................................... I
Supporting Organizations—Introduction, Subsidiary Corporation—Regulations,
Affiliated Enterprise—Regulations, Associated Enterprise—Regulations, Auxiliary
Ministries—Regulations.
INDEX........................................................................................................................................J
2018EDITION
SECTION A
CONSTITUTIONS AND BYLAWS
Articles of Incorporation ...........................................................................................................A1
General Constitution and Bylaws .............................................................................................A2
General Council Special Rules of Order ..................................................................................A3
Auxiliary Constitutions
Districts ..................................................................................................................................A4
Accredited Churches ..............................................................................................................A5
2018EDITION
A1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
Pursuant to the provisions of the Colorado Nonprofit Corporation Act, the undersigned
corporation adopts the following Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
1. The corporation’s name is The Christian and Missionary Alliance.
2. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation contain amendments which
correctly set forth the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended. These
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, together with the amendments
contained herein, supersede the original Articles of Incorporation and all amendments
thereto.
3. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation were adopted by a written consent
of members signed by all members entitled to vote with respect thereto.
FIRST: Name. The name of the corporation is The Christian and Missionary Alliance.
SECOND: Duration. The corporation shall have perpetual existence.
THIRD: Statement of Faith.
(a) There is one God1, who is infinitely perfect2, existing eternally in three persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.3(1Deuteronomy 6:4, 2Matthew 5:48, 3Matthew 28:19)
(b) Jesus Christ is true God and true man.4 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born
of thevirgin Mary.5 He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust,6 as a
substitutionary sacrifice,7 and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of
His shed blood.8 He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures.9 He is now at the
right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest.10 He will come again to
establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace.11 (4Philippians 2:6–11, 5Luke
1:36–38, 61 Peter 3:18, 7Hebrews 2:9, 8Romans 5:9, 9Acts 2:23–24, 10Hebrews 8:1,
11Matthew 26:64)
(c) The Holy Spirit is a divine person,12 sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the
believer,13 and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.14 (12John
14:15–18, 13John 16:13 and Acts 1:8, 14John 16:7–11)
(d) The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by
Last Revision General Council 2015 A1-1
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION 2018EDITION
God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They
constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.15 (152 Peter 1:20–21
and 2 Timothy 3:15–16)
(e) Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God:16 he fell through
disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born
with a sinful nature,17 are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only
through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.18 The portion of the impenitent
and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment;19 and that of the believer,
in everlasting joy and bliss.20 (16Genesis 1:27, 17Romans 3:23, 181 Corinthians 15:20–
23, 19Revelation 21:8, 20Revelation 21:1–4)
(f) Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent
and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life,
and become the children of God.21 (21Titus 3:4–7)
(g) It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be
sanctified wholly,22 being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the
will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service.23 This is
both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer
subsequent to conversion.24 (221 Thessalonians 5:23, 23Acts 1:8,24Romans 6:1–14)
(h) Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of
the mortal body.25 Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the
Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age.26 (25Matthew 8:16–17,
26James 5:13–16)
(i) The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed
through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the
Body, the Church,27 which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as
a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.28
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the
worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the
proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the
Lord’s Supper.29 (27Ephesians 1:22–23, 28Matthew 28:19–20, 29Acts 2:41–47)
(j) There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a
resurrection unto life;30 for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment.31 (301 Corinthians
15:20–23, 31John 5:28–29)
(k) The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent32 and will be personal,
visible, and premillennial.33 This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth
which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.34 (32Hebrews 10:37, 33Luke
21:27, 34Titus 2:11–14)
A1-2 Last Revision General Council 2015
2018EDITION ARTICLESOF INCORPORATION
FOURTH: Purposes and Powers.
(a) Purposes. The corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for
religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code. The specific purposes and objectives of the corporation shall include, but not
be limited to, the following: to bear witness to the Christian truths, especially those
relating to the deeper Christian life, to preach the gospel at home and abroad, to
evangelize the neglected classes, to establish and maintain mission stations, to
prosecute mission work, to erect and to assist in erecting such buildings as may be
necessary for such purposes, and to engage in preaching and establishing and
maintaining houses for religious worship, all of which buildings and houses shall be
irrevocably dedicated to religious and charitable purposes and upon the liquidation or
dissolution or abandonment of said corporation, said properties will not inure to the
benefit of any private person; the teaching of religion, missionary training, and
instruction preparatory to such courses and maintaining schools therefor.
(b) Powers. In furtherance of the foregoing purposes and objectives (but not otherwise)
and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section (c) of this Article, the corporation
shall have and may exercise all of the powers now or hereafter conferred upon
nonprofit corporations organized under the laws of Colorado and may do everything
necessary or convenient for the accomplishment of any of the corporate purposes,
either alone or in connection with other organizations, entities or individuals, and
either as principal or agent, subject to such limitations as are or may be prescribed by
law.
(c) Restrictions on Powers. No part of the assets, income, profits, or net earnings of the
corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to any of its members,
directors, trustees, or officers, or any other private person, except that the corporation
shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make
payments and distributions in furtherance of its exempt purposes. No substantial part
of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or
intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political
campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Upon dissolution of the
corporation, all of the corporation’s assets remaining after payment of or provision
for all of its liabilities shall be paid over or transferred to one or more exempt
organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (as it may from time to time be amended). The organizations to receive
such property shall be designated by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the
corporation shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a
corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under
Last Revision General Council 2015 A1-3
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION 2018EDITION
Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as it may from time to time
be amended).
FIFTH: Members. The corporation shall have two classes of members: accredited
members and general members. Each accredited member shall have the right to vote on
each matter submitted to a vote of the members. No accredited member shall be entitled
to be represented or to vote by proxy at the regular meeting of the members, as such
meeting is defined in the Bylaws of the corporation, except for presidential elections in
which each accredited proxy delegate shall be entitled to one vote by proxy, as described
in the Bylaws of the Corporation. Each accredited member shall be entitled to be
represented and to vote by proxy at all special meetings of the members, as such meetings
are defined in the Bylaws of the corporation. No general member who is not also an
accredited member shall have the right to vote. The manner of election or appointment,
qualifications, tenure, terms of membership, rights, powers, privileges, and immunities of
each class of members shall be as from time to time set forth in the Bylaws of the
corporation. The corporation shall have no capital stock.
SIXTH: Board of Directors.
(a) Board of Directors. The management of the affairs of the corporation shall be vested
in a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is subject to the legislation and
policies enacted by the General Council, which is the representative body of the
members of the corporation. The number of directors, their classifications, if any,
their term of office, and the manner of their election or appointment shall be
determined according to the Bylaws of the corporation from time to time in force.
(b) Liability of Members of the Board of Directors. No member of the Board of
Directors shall be personally liable to the corporation or to its members for monetary
damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except that the foregoing shall
not eliminate or limit such director’s liability to the corporation or to its members for
monetary damages for the following: (1) any breach of such director’s duty of loyalty
to the corporation or to its members, (2) any of such director’s acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(3) acts specified in Section 7-24-111 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, as it now
exists or hereafter may be amended (regarding a director’s assent to or participation
in the making of any loan by the corporation to any director or officer of the
corporation), or (4) any transaction from which such director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the Colorado Nonprofit Corporation Act hereafter is amended to
authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the
liability of a director of the corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal
liability provided herein, shall be further eliminated or limited to the fullest extent
permitted by the Colorado Nonprofit Corporation Act. Any repeal or modification of
this Article SIXTH (b) shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any
right or protection of a director of the corporation existing at the time of such repeal
or modification.
A1-4 Last Revision General Council 2015